Service Background
Norfolk Medicines Support Service (NMSS) has been in operation since 2003. It is jointly funded between health and social care. The aim of the service is to put in place a pragmatic solution to assist a person to manage their medicines safely, effectively and as independently as possible.
Purpose and Scope
The purpose of the service is to assess and support patients 18 years or over who have been identified with a medicines management problem that cannot be resolved by the dispensing surgery/community pharmacy or any other healthcare professional under the requirements of the Equality Act (2010).
In-Scope
- Patients aged 18 years or over
- Patients registered to a GP practice in Norfolk
- Patient is having challenges to independently manage their medication
- Dispensing surgery/ community pharmacy have assessed the patient and unable to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act (2010).
Patient Assessment – Medication Support
The assessors are General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registered Pharmacy Technicians or Pharmacist who will visit patients at home and assess the patient on all elements of their medicine’s management including, but not limited to:
- How their medicines are ordered and received
- Their understanding of the purpose of medicines prescribed
- Their understanding of the dose regime currently prescribed
- Storage of medicines
- Stockpiling of medicines
- The administration routine
- Adherence
- Reminders/assistance currently in place
- What level of care is currently in place, formal or otherwise?
- Any side effects being experienced.
Consideration is also given to the patient’s living situation, their capacity, dexterity, and demeanour or any other factor that may contribute to medicines management. During the assessment the assessor will work with the patient to identify the most appropriate medicine compliance aid that will aid medication compliance.
On completion of an assessment the assessor will liaise with the medication supplier, and GP to ensure that the medication compliance aid request can be facilitated.
Ongoing support will be delivered from the team with follow up calls at 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months.
Outcomes for patients
NMSS Assessors have a strong depth of expertise and knowledge and will place the relevant intervention, which is best for the patient in order that the individual can remain independent, compliant and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
Building relationships
NMSS works closely with several different multi-disciplinary teams including GPs, community pharmacy staff, other community teams, other healthcare professionals, relatives, carers and any other support network teams all with patients consent.
How to refer into the service
To refer into the service, please download and complete the appropriate form below. Please ensure that patient consent has been granted, this can be signed on the form physically by the patient or granted verbally.
To avoid any delays, please complete every section on the forms. Any referrals submitted where sections are left blank, will be rejected and returned back to the referrer to complete and resubmit.
Once completed, please email directly to agem.norfolkmedicineservices@nhs.net.
Alternatively, pharmacies can go onto Pharmoutcomes and submit referrals by selecting ‘Norfolk Medicines Support Service Referral Form 2024’ for assessment referrals & for MAR chart referrals, please select ‘MAR request form’.
Norfolk Medicines Support Service Referral form – Assessment for Compliance aid
This form is to be used for patients requiring an assessment for a compliance aid. This form can be completed by any medical professional. If you are trying to request a MAR Chart, please use the NMSS MAR chart form below.
Form - Registration for NMSS MAR chart
This form should be completed by the Care Provider and pharmacy / dispensary only.
Staff learning and development
NMSS Clinical Framework details the purpose of the service and the knowledge, skills and attributes required for those working within the NMSS setting.
The purpose of the Framework is to provide a transparent and coordinated approach to ensure that all NMSS staff adhere to stipulated guidance relating to process and policies whilst undertaking administration or clinical duties on behalf of NMSS, including:
- Regular peer and clinical review to identify areas of strength and define areas for improvement
- Continued professional development and learning
- Full Information Governance compliance
- Open and transparent methods of communication to support reporting of incidents and safeguarding concerns
- Review of performance and the sharing of good practice.
Care worker training
NMSS deliver a virtual training pack to carers who work in domiciliary care supported living, reablement, housing with care, day services.
This course is aimed at care and support workers who will need to handle and administer medication as part of their role. Workers should be working in a home care setting. Initial Medication Training is suitable if you have never done NMSS training before or want a full days’ knowledge and content.
We offer
- Initial Medication (Home Care) Training
- Refresher Medication (Home Care) Training
For further information to discuss course availability and costs please call 01603 257006 / 257007 or send us an email.
Online training courses for Care & Support workers
Gain an understanding of how to handle and administer medication in a person’s own home.
Norfolk Medicines Support Service deliver a virtual training pack to carers who work in domiciliary care, supported living, reablement, housing with care and day services.
To book or discuss course availability please call 01603 257006/257007 or send us an email
Contact us
To find out more please contact us:
Email : agem.norfolkmedicineservices@nhs.net
Telephone: 01603 257006 / 257007
Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00hrs
If you would like to find out about our Medicines Management and Optimisation service please click here
RELEVANT READING
Find out more about our Norfolk Medicines Support Service by accessing the resources below.
Providing pharmacy programme management for the NHS England Midlands Specialised Commissioning team
NHS Arden & GEM’s Medicines Optimisation team was engaged by the NHS England Midlands Region Specialised Commissioning team to provide a nine-month period of temporary embedded pharmacy programme management support.
Mapping training and career pathways for pharmacy professionals in the Midlands and East of England
In response to a perceived lack of clarity about training and education needs for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, Health Education England commissioned Arden & GEM to conduct a pilot study to explore current post-registration education and training pathways.
Converting existing nurse competency frameworks into a Digital Paediatric Skills Passport
NHS Arden & GEM’s Clinical Support team was engaged by NHS England to provide programme management and strategic leadership to digitalise paediatric critical care competency frameworks.
Co-developing an integrated, system-wide frailty strategy in Lincolnshire
Sarah-Jane Mills from Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board and Roz Baker from NHS Arden & GEM CSU explain how they led development of an integrated frailty strategy to bring together disparate services and pathways that would improve quality and outcomes for Lincolnshire’s growing frail population in this article for Healthcare Leader.
Co-developing and implementing a frailty strategy for Lincolnshire Integrated Care System
Arden & GEM’s Clinical Support team worked closely with ICB colleagues to bring together a wide range of stakeholders from across health and social care to co-develop a frailty strategy for Lincolnshire.
Developing a harmonised Section 117 aftercare policy for Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Two experienced, registered mental health nurses from Arden & GEM’s Clinical Support team led a process of stakeholder engagement and policy development to put in place a harmonised Section 117 aftercare policy across the Black Country health and care system, which underpins clinical practice and ensures service users are offered access to support which meet their needs.
Specialist training for health and justice services on NHS continuing healthcare and fast-track referrals
Arden & GEM’s clinical support team was engaged to design and deliver a specialist training programme to provide prison healthcare staff with a clearer understanding of NHS continuing healthcare and increased knowledge of the decision-making processes.
Implementing a Population Health Management methodology across Lincolnshire Integrated Care System
Arden & GEM’s clinical support team has provided expertise and experience in project management, business management and clinical engagement to help the Lincolnshire ICS Population Health Management programme achieve its vision and goals, implementing a whole system approach to intelligence-led decision making.
Improving efficiency of the prior approval requests process through better use of Blueteq
NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) engaged NHS Arden & GEM’s Clinical Support team to undertake a project which would streamline their prior approval request process, improve visibility of requests and maintain ongoing assurance.
Improving reporting process efficiencies for the NHS England Midlands Region specialised commissioning pharmacy team
The NHS England Midlands Region specialised commissioning pharmacy team agreed a package of support with Arden & GEM that would see the CSU’s medicines optimisation team provide additional capacity and capability in invoice validation, drugs challenges, contract meetings and commissioning query response.